Wednesday, February 19, 2014

SIH’s Think On These Things: Proverbs 21:10-14


He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)

Practical Life Principles: Sin Brings Misery (3): Proverbs 21:10-14
10) The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.
11) When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
12) The righteous [man] wisely considereth the house of the wicked: [but God] overthroweth the wicked for [their] wickedness.
13) Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
14) A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.

Solomon continues to emphasize the end result of sin in our lives…. misery

EXPOSITION:
10) The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.
1.  The life of those who are immoral and corrupt long for and pursue wickedness as a lifestyle
2.  The wicked man’s lifestyle of pursuing wickedness will eventually harm his neighbours.  This causes his neighbours to see him as undesirable, unkind and unwanted.

A lifestyle that pursues sin will cause others to look upon us as hateful, merciless and harmful.

“Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.  Thou lovest evil more than good; [and] lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah.  Thou lovest all devouring words, O [thou] deceitful tongue.  God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of [thy] dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.”   (Psalms 52:2-5)


11) When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
1.  When those who mock the truth face a penalty, those who are naive will learn to take God’s truth seriously.
2.  When those who are wise are taught the truth, they will hear it, acknowledge it, and cling to it.

The proclamation of truth affects both the wise and the foolish.  When rejected, it results in judgment; when accepted, it results in enhanced knowledge, this leads to greter understanding and, when applied, results in increased wisdom.

“But God shall shoot at them [with] an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.  So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away.  And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.  The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.”   (Psalms 64:7-10)
  

12) The righteous [man] wisely considereth the house of the wicked: [but God] overthroweth the wicked for [their] wickedness.
1.  Those whose life is lived in a God pleasing way, will be guided by the Word, as they are reflect on the plight of the wicked. 
2.   In comparison to the righteous’ attitude concerning the wicked, God will dominate and ruin the wicked because of their rebellious lifestyle.

This is implying that when the righteous consider the spiritual blindness of the wicked, and the eternal judgment that awaits the wicked, the righteous will show mercy and compassion towards the wicked.   They will not seek personal judgment against the wicked, but will rely upon the Lord to judge the wicked.

“Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see [it].  I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.  Yet he passed away, and, lo, he [was] not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.  Mark the perfect [man], and behold the upright: for the end of [that] man [is] peace.  But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.”   (Psalms 37:34-38)


13) Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
1.  He who refuses to hear the pleas for help from those who are in need
2.  When he is in need will find his pleas ignored as well.

When a man, being driven by his selfishness, refuses to help those in need, they will not find help when their time of need arises.

“Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,  Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.  When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:  Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.  But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all [ye] workers of iniquity.  There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you [yourselves] thrust out.”   (Luke 13:23-28)


14) A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
1.  When two parties disagree, a gift, when it is not given publicly, will cause anger to cease.   
2.  A bribe, when it is given in an intimate way, will cause exceeding hot anger to be brought to peace.

It is an act of wisdom to attempt to appease an opponent’s anger by acts of kindness and grace on their behalf.  This includes “gifts” of any type whether it be kind and gracious, attitudes, words, acts or literal gifts given to them in secret. 
(When a gift is given publicly, the opposition will feel public pressure to not cease from their anger.  If they do cease from anger, the public will accuse them of be selfish, unprincipled and weak.  That is why the need for secrecy is stressed in this proverb.)

“Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man [is] a friend to him that giveth gifts.”  (Proverbs 19:6)

“If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:  For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.”   (Proverbs 25:21-22)


SUMMARY:
The miseries that come from sin our lives include:
1.  When we are lax in our spiritual responsibilities, we can expect to face spiritual loss and discontentment.
2.  Anyone seeking earthly riches through the use of deceit, is pursuing that which will bring loss and ruin to himself.
3.  When the wicked choose to ignore the testimony of their conscience, they will be brought to ruin and uselessness.
4.  The nature of the wicked leads them to perform acts that are detested by God and man.
5.  An argumentative, critical attitude hinders intimacy with others by taking away joy and other benefits of fellowship and intimacy.
6.  A lifestyle that pursues sin will cause others to look upon us as hateful, merciless and harmful.
7.  When truth is rejected, it results in judgment at the hands of the Lord, the Author of all truth.
8.  God will dominate and ruin the wicked because of their rebellious lifestyle.
9.  He who refuses to hear the pleas for help from those who are in need, will find his pleas for help ignored.
10. Anger, when not treated with an attitude of grace, will allow anger and a hot, flaring temper to continue.

By God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value that they deserve.

May the Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.

SIH Homepage: http://www.settledinheaven.org


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